Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Path Forward Formulator™
Welcome to the FAQ page for the Path Forward Formulator™ (PFF) app. We understand that you may have questions about our platform, so we've compiled some of the most commonly asked questions and their answers to help you navigate PFF effectively. You can also contact us our team anytime at info@pathforwardformulator.com.
What is Path Forward Formulator™ (PFF)?
PFF is a powerful app designed to simplify formulation, cost estimation, and supplement or nutritional facts generation within the dietary supplement industry. It empowers professionals involved in product development, innovation, marketing, and supply chain management to streamline their processes and create high-quality products.
Who can benefit from using PFF?
PFF is designed to cater to a wide range of professionals, including formulators, product development teams, brands, start-ups, innovators, entrepreneurs and suppliers within the dietary supplement industry. Whether you're experienced or new to the field, PFF offers tools and resources to enhance your work.
Do I need a background in formulation or ingredients to use PFF?
No, you don't need a specialized background in formulation or ingredients to use PFF. Our user-friendly interface is designed to make the process as straightforward as possible. You can start using PFF and access its benefits without extensive training.
How does PFF simplify formulation?
PFF simplifies the formulation process by allowing users to make choices, and the app handles all the calculations for you including items such as potency and standard overages. This means you can create product formulations with ease, even if you're not an expert in ingredients or a certain dosage format.
Can PFF help with cost estimation?
Absolutely. PFF calculates costs associated with your formulations, enabling you to make informed decisions that align with your budgetary constraints.
What about Supplement and/or Nutrition Facts?
PFF generates draft specification sheets and supplement/nutrition facts boxes, ensuring your products meet industry standards and regulatory requirements.
How can Ingredient and Component Suppliers benefit from PFF?
Suppliers can integrate their products into the PFF data set, gaining exposure to a broad network of professionals seeking high-quality ingredients and components. It's a cost-effective way to market their products and connect with potential buyers.
What is the cost associated with using PFF?
PFF offers different pricing plans to accommodate various user needs. The cost depends on your specific requirements. Contact our team at info@pathforwardformulator.com for detailed pricing information.
How do I get started with PFF?
To get started with PFF, simply contact our team at info@pathforwardformulator.com to explore the features of the app and how it may support your needs.
How can I add an ingredient to the Path Forward Formulator™ (PFF) dataset if it's not currently available in the database?
If you have a specific ingredient you want to work with, but it's not currently listed in the PFF database, you can take the following steps to add it:
Request Ingredient Addition: Within the PFF app, there is an option to add a new ingredient.
Provide Detailed Information: When adding a new ingredient, be prepared to provide information about it. This includes the ingredient's name, specifications, certifications, pricing, and any other relevant details.
Integration into the Dataset: Once approved, the new ingredient will be integrated into the PFF dataset, making it available for you and other users on your team to work with in your formulations.
Adding a new ingredient to the dataset not only benefits you but also enhances the overall utility of the app for the entire PFF community. If you have specific requirements or need assistance with this process, consider reaching out to PFF support for guidance on how to effectively add your desired ingredient.
If a company adds an ingredient on their own, does it become part of the full dataset?
When a company adds an ingredient to the Path Forward Formulator™ (PFF) platform on their own, it is important to note that this addition populates only within their private dataset. The ingredient will be available for their internal use, but it won't automatically become part of the full dataset used by all PFF users outside of your company.
This feature ensures that companies can maintain control over their proprietary formulations and ingredients while benefiting from the convenience and efficiency of using PFF for their internal processes. If a company wishes to share an ingredient with the broader PFF community, they can explore collaboration options or contact the PFF support team for guidance on how to make their ingredient available to a wider audience.
11a. Will my existing formulas be automatically updated when I locally update the cost of an ingredient?
Yes, when you update an ingredient cost locally, all your existing formulas using that ingredient will start to update. The full process takes a few minutes, and the total length of time depends on how many formulas in total your organization has.
Why does PFF sometimes calculate a cost higher than what my CMO quotes for the formula?
The Path Forward Formulator™ (PFF) app is designed to provide a starting point for cost estimation by using base pricing for ingredients and components. This base pricing is a general reference point and may not always match the specific negotiated pricing agreements that your company has with suppliers or contract manufacturers (CMOs).
Why does PFF use base pricing?
PFF uses base pricing as a standard reference because it aims to be user-friendly and accessible to a wide range of professionals in the dietary supplement industry. This approach allows users to quickly estimate costs without the need for complex, individualized pricing information.
However, we recognize that actual pricing can vary based on negotiations and business agreements. If you have negotiated lower pricing with your suppliers or CMOs, you can manually update the pricing entry within your company's private dataset on PFF. This updated pricing will then only populate within your company's use of the app, reflecting the specific agreements you have in place.
This flexibility enables you to align the cost estimations in PFF with your company's unique pricing arrangements while still benefiting from the app's other powerful features for formulation, as well as specification and supplement/nutritional facts generation.
If I am a Supplier, how do I get my ingredients or components into the app's database?
If you are a Supplier interested in showcasing your ingredients or components within the Path Forward Formulator™ (PFF) app, the process is straightforward. Here's what you need to do:
For more information, you can visit the PFF website under the "Supplier" section. Additionally, feel free to contact us via email at info@pathforwardformulator.com for any inquiries or assistance in getting your ingredients or components featured on the platform.
From there we can set up your supplier account and work with you to submit the details of your ingredients or components via our dataset entry template.
PFF may have a verification process to ensure the accuracy and quality of the information you provide. Be prepared to provide supporting documentation if necessary.
Once your products are approved and included in the PFF database, they become visible to a wide network of professionals in the dietary supplement industry, including formulators, product development teams, and brands.
Will Path Forward Formulator™ (PFF) support additional dosage forms like Beadlets, Gummies, Bars, and Drinks in the future?
Yes, the PFF team is committed to enhancing and expanding the app's capabilities to better serve users. This includes the incorporation of additional dosage formats such as Beadlets, Gummies, Bars, and Drinks.
PFF recognizes the diverse needs of professionals in the dietary supplement industry and understands the importance of accommodating various dosage forms. To meet these needs, the PFF team has plans in place for ongoing updates and feature additions. Over time, you can expect to see these additional dosage formats integrated into the app's functionality.
As a user of PFF, you will stay informed about these developments through our monthly newsletter. This newsletter will provide updates on the progress of new features and functionalities, ensuring that you are always aware of what's coming and how it can benefit your work.
PFF is dedicated to continuously improving and expanding its offerings to provide you with the most comprehensive and versatile platform for dietary supplement formulation and product development.
What is the difference between the “global” and the “local” dataset.
The global dataset refers to the comprehensive set of data available across the entire PFF system. When you first download PFF, the global dataset populates to your company’s local dataset. This local dataset becomes specific to your company allowing you to add, edit and delete ingredients specific to your company.
How long does it take for the global dataset to populate to our company’s local dataset after installing PFF for the first time?
When you first run PFF, the global dataset will start to populate to your company’s local dataset in batches of 50. Typically, the full data is available within 5-10 minutes. Once complete, all components of the dataset are now available to all users within your organization.
We hope these FAQs have provided you with useful information about the Path Forward Formulator™ app. If you have any more questions or require further assistance, please don't hesitate to contact our support team. We're here to help you make the most of your PFF experience.